83. Could, Should, Will, Maybe
Chapter 1
It wasn't surprising to walk into Major Richards' office and find General Garrison there. The major motioned the newcomers to his conference table and told them to have a seat. The four men pulled out chairs and sat down.
Richards stepped up to another chair, with a folder in his hand. He lay it on the table and opened it. The top photograph was handed to Actor.
"Is this Frank Miller?" the major asked, though he was certain that it was.
Actor took the picture and studied it. The lighting on the darkening Basel street clouded the sharpness, but there was no mistaking the thin face of the man. He showed it to Casino who was seated next to him.
"That's him," said the safecracker with dislike. "He's the guy who took the Warden and the diamonds."
Actor looked at Major Richards. "That is Frank Miller," confirmed the con man.
The picture was passed around the table. Chief had only seen Miller on the boat with the Warden and some other guy. He had not been in the building with the others. But, Goniff had. The Englishman took the photo and stared at it.
"Yes, that's the scanky bloke."
Will Garrison approached the table but did not sit. He remained standing to the left and behind Major Richards. He had seen all the photographs and now wanted to observe the men's reactions to the rest that were about to pass around.
"Miss Garrison was able to get pictures of Miller's new group and their dossiers," said Richards.
He moved the open folder in front of Actor and the Italian lifted the first picture up, studied it, and then read the dossier on the man.
The name was familiar to the Italian, but he had never met this confidence man. His reputation was hardly admirable. Pierre Gagnon, of Paris, France, had a mediocre career in antiques and gambling. He was not of the caliber Actor knew himself to be. But then, few were anymore. Therese Donat's father was the last of that era of confidence men. He passed the photo to Casino and picked up the next one.
Gerald Mulligan, from Boston, Massachusetts, was the safecracker. Not surprising, he did not have the expertise Casino did with all kinds of safes and explosives.
"Pretty boy," said Casino about the man in the first photo. "Figured he was the confidence man. You know him, Actor?"
"Just the name and his reputation. Less than an illustrious career," replied Actor. He held the next photo and dossier out to the cracksman. "Are you familiar with this one?"
Casino slid Gagnon's picture and report across the table to Chief. He looked at the cracksman's photo. "Jerry M.," he laughed. "Last I heard he was doing ten to fifteen in Attica. Used a little too much nitro on a bank vault and blew the banker up with it."
"Let's see," said Chief, holding his hand out.
Casino slid the photo and dossier across the table. Studying the photo, Chief chuckled. "Yeah, I know him. Bragged all the time how good he was with explosives. Said he was framed. Nobody believed him."
He passed Mulligan's photo and papers to Goniff. The pickpocket didn't know him at all. "Maybe he were framed," he said. "I was."
The other three men laughed.
"Yeah, Limey, and we don't believe you either," fired back Casino.
Chief looked at the confidence man's photo. "Would this guy know you, Actor?"
"By reputation only," said the Italian. "We've never met."
"Well," said Major Richards. "There's the rub. They have pictures of you four and Lt. Garrison."
The four men looked up at that.
Gen. Garrison picked up the thread of the conversation. "Terry was thorough. She also had your pictures and dossiers on that microfilm."
"How'd that Miller get pictures and dossiers on us?" demanded Casino.
Actor answered that. "We know they are getting information from Allied Command. There are probably several officers who have copies of our pictures and dossiers."
He looked at the folder and slid the next photo and report over in front of himself. Adelbert Wagner, killer for hire. He had been thrown out of the Wehrmacht for being too eager to kill prisoners. Too eager by even German standards. Apparently, Miller had not learned from his last group. Or, perhaps, there were not enough suitable felons around. Miller's last killer had been in the military too. That had not worked well.
While the last photo was making its way around the table, Actor leaned back in his chair and pulled his pipe and tobacco from the inner pocket of his jacket. He began to build a pipe. Glancing up, the con man noticed General Garrison pulling out his pipe. In a rare gesture, Actor sent his bag of tobacco sliding down the table to the older Garrison. Will picked up the bag and gave a sidewise tip of his head in thanks.
Casino was the only one to notice this little play and shook his head. He glanced behind the General at the safe sitting close to Major Richard's desk.
"So, are the plans in that safe?" the cracksman asked.
"Yes," replied the Major.
"You need a better safe," said Casino smugly. "A two year old could break into that one. Even Terry wouldn't have a problem."
"I somehow do not believe Teresa would appreciate being referred to as in the same class with a two year old," said Actor wryly. "If you recall, she did break into that vault."
Casino made a hand gesture of acceptance. "Yeah, I taught her well."
Actor turned his attention back to Major Richards. "And what is the plan from here?"
Gen. Garrison answered that one. "This is what you're going to do."
The four cons turned their heads and stared at him in amusement.
"Now we know where the Warden got it," remarked Casino.
GGGGG
The next two nights were spent inside and hiding around the building that housed Major Richards' office. Chief was behind the parked cars. Actor was in a shed behind the building. And Goniff was up a tree. The only one inside was Casino, disguised as a maintenance man working on the plumbing in one of the rest rooms down the hall from Richards' office.
On the third night, a military vehicle pulled up to the building and disgorged four men in British military uniforms of varying rank. Without seeming to look around, they walked to the door and right in.
Casino heard the sound of boots on the tile floor coming in his direction. He went into one of the stalls, locked the swinging door behind him, and jumped up on the seat. The footsteps went past him and stopped at what was probably Richards' office. The safecracker silently eased out of the stall and knelt at the open door going into hall. Cautiously, he peered around the jamb. The hall was empty. Too bad they couldn't take the 'rats' right then. They were all together in the office.
The minutes dragged on by Casino's watch. What were they doing having a party in there? It was taking too long. Couldn't Jerry M. open a safe without blowing it up? At fifteen minutes, Casino went back in the stall like before. A couple more minutes and the footsteps returned and went on past the rest room in the direction they had come from.
Casino carefully checked the hall and moved swiftly to the office door. He had it open in five seconds with his spring steal. Not worrying, he flipped on the overhead light and squatted next to the safe. He had that open in another fifteen seconds. The envelope with the bogus plans was missing. The cracksman shut the safe door and did not bother to wipe it down for prints.
By the time he reached the desk of the vetted corporal by the outside door, Actor and the others were there.
"They got it," said Casino with a grin.
The corporal was looking up at the tall older man who seemed to be in charge.
"Sir, they had the right paperwork coming in," he said in confusion.
"O' course they did, Mate," said Goniff. "We do it all the time."
"Quiet," barked Actor, half in admonition and half because he was dialing Major Richards' home number from the desk phone. The phone on the other end barely rang once before it was picked up. "They have it. Is there a plane ready for us?"
"Yes, at the RAF base five miles down the road," replied the Major with satisfaction. "I can have Lt. Garrison there in twenty minutes."
Actor's 'no' and that of Will Garrison over the phone sounded almost simultaneously.
"Sir," said the confidence man and now leader of the group, "what we said before still goes. We may have to do things that would be of little consequence to us but could be detrimental to the Lieutenant's career."
"Leave Craig where he is," said Will in the background.
"As you wish," acquiesced Richards. "The gate at the RAF base has orders to allow you through without inspection. A driver should be in front of my office momentarily."
"Are we going to Zurich?" asked Actor, unsure where Teresa was at the moment.
"That is where you will fly into. It is a two hour trip by train to Basel," replied Kevin, "Terry has an apartment in Basel. Your driver has the address for you." There was a pause. "Actor? Good luck to you and your men."
"Thank you, Major. We will be in touch." Actor hung up the phone and turned to the other men. "Come, Gentlemen, our ride awaits us."
GGGGG
Knowing Miller and his band were gone, Terry took up residence for the night in the alley she had used before. It was a long and cold night, but in the end, she was rewarded with a car pulling to the curb in front of the photography shop and the four men getting out to go inside. Still she waited and watched. The sun was coming up, but the street was still in shadow. A half hour later, two men came out and got into the car, one in the front behind the wheel and the other in the back. Fifteen minutes later, Miller came out with a briefcase and locked the door to the shop. Terry watched him get in the back seat and the car took off without the fourth man.
The girl was torn between finding out what had happened to the fourth man and following Miller to at least get an idea of his destination. Miller won out. While waiting in the dark alley, Terry had hotwired a car parked about twenty yards away. She ran to it and jumped in behind the wheel. She hit the starter button and grinned when the engine turned over and caught. Not waiting for the owner to show up at the sound of his engine, she threw it in gear and shot out of the alley in pursuit of the vehicle that was making a left turn three blocks away.
Terry knew how to lose a tail, but she also knew how to be one. Five minutes later, she picked up the fact Miller was headed for the border with what was supposed to be France. She pulled over and watched as his car stopped at the checkpoint. He had to have papers because he was waved on through.
Pulling up to the check point, she dug her papers out of the purse she had with her and handed them with a look of slight impatience to the guard.
"Midwife?" he asked.
"Yes," replied the woman. "There is a young girl in labor in Mulhouse. Their midwife was killed in a bombing raid. I am the closest there is."
The young man accepted her explanation, handed the papers back and waved her on through. She pulled forward and continued on. When she came to the crossroads and did not see Miller's car on the main road, she turned onto the river road and drove carefully along, watching for tail lights. After driving another mile, she spotted lights up ahead. Shutting her slitted headlights off, she hung back far enough to catch sight of the vehicle as it went along the curving road. Carefully, Terry followed. About twenty minutes later, the lead car reached another crossroads with a bridge going into Germany and Mulhouse in the opposite direction. The car turned right and went over the bridge crossing the Rhine River.
Terry debated what to do next. She could follow Miller, but eventually he would spot her tail. The guys should be arriving in Basel at some point, so it was better if she went back. With a sigh, she drove forward, crossed the bridge, and took the river road back on the Germany side so not to go through the same checkpoint and cause suspicion.
Getting into Basel was as easy as getting out of it had been, with the same papers and the story of the delivery. Fast delivery she smiled to herself. The sun was up, and it was getting lighter as she wound through the streets of the city and back to her apartment.
The floor she was on was quiet. The men should have arrived by now. There was no sound from the apartment. She crept up silently and pulled the little Walther from her coat pocket. The hair she had stuck to the doorframe over the door of her apartment was gone. Somebody had gone inside. It was probably the guys, but then again maybe it was not. Gun ready, Terry slowly turned the knob. It was unlocked. She eased it open an inch and listened. There was no sound from inside. Shoving hard on the door, she jumped inside, down in a crouch to the right, gun aimed at the four men who were aiming guns at her. The five stared at each other a second before lowering their weapons. Terry rose to her feet.
"What the hell did you do to your hair?" demanded Casino.
"Peroxide," said Terry. She smiled insincerely at Actor. "He can fix it later."
"Probably not," said the confidence man with disgust.
Terry shut and locked the door. "How long have you been here?"
"About fifteen minutes," replied Actor. "Where have you been?"
The girl set her purse and gun on the little table and removed her coat, draping it over the back of the chair.
"In an alley most of the night. Then I took a little trip into France, crossed into Germany and came back here."
The four men met her at the table.
"You followed them?" asked Casino.
"Yes," replied Terry. She looked up at Actor. "Stuttgart, Heidelberg, Mannheim or Nuremberg," she said. "Too far to drive to Berlin. They might have other transportation arranged though."
"You got a plan, Actor," asked Goniff.
"For the moment, we wait to see if they come back."
Terry pulled the chair out and sat. "If they do, then do we take them?"
Actor knew he was in for an argument. "No. If they do, we take them, not you."
Terry did not like that answer but had a more important one. She looked around. "Where's Craig?"
"Most likely still in the stockade in London," replied Actor.
"Why?" demanded the girl.
"Because it is best to keep the two of you out of this." The con man watched her eyes narrow.
"Oh, no," Terry objected adamantly. "I'm the one who has been following them. I'm the one who staked out the photography shop. I'm finishing this."
Actor shook his head. "No, you are going back to London."
"Actor . . . !"
She did not get to finish before he stepped forward, took her elbow and steered her away from the others. When he stopped, she turned to face him, surprised that he kept a firm hold on her hand.
"Teresa," he began in a low voice, "I am asking you to return to England." When she opened her mouth to object, he added, "Please, hear me out. We deliberately left before the Warden could get out of the stockade and back to us. We don't know how this will end, but it will be final. It is not something you or the Lieutenant should be involved in."
Terry frowned. "Actor, I want to go with you. The Garrisons have a vested interest in this."
Actor reached for her other hand and held it. "Teresa, you have done your part. And most admirably at that. Now, please, allow us to do ours."
The two stared into each other's eyes. The girl understood where the con man's thinking was coming from. She backed down first.
"Will you come back to England?" she asked softly. After all, they were in a neutral country.
"We plan to," assured the confidence man. "We want those paroles."
Terry looked back up at him and mouthed "Hug?"
Actor smiled. "Of course."
He pulled her against him and held her tightly as she burrowed into his chest, his cheek resting atop her head. Finally, she pulled away.
She looked up, wanting to tell him to be careful. Wanting to tell him she was worried for him and the others. Wanting to tell him she loved him. But the sad crooked smile and the slight nod of his head told her he knew. She squeezed his hands and let go, all the time her eyes scanning his face as if for the last time.
Turning away, she looked at the three other men standing close together a little way away, watching her and Actor. Terry pasted a smile on her face and walked up to them.
Goniff was closest and she held her arms out. He wrapped his around her and hugged her hard.
"Be careful," she said.
"I'm always careful," said the pickpocket,
"Sure."
She moved to Casino next. The safecracker pulled her into a tight hug.
"Be careful, Charlie," she whispered into his ear.
"Hey, this'll be a piece uh cake," he said.
She pulled her head back and squinted at him. "I thought you were the one who always says what's going to go wrong?"
"That's only on the Warden's missions." He looked down at her seriously. "This one's ours, Honey."
"Well just don't forget to come back," she admonished.
He grinned. "Hafta. Gotta give Beautiful a run for his money with you, don't I?"
"Casino!"
He chuckled and she shook her head. Giving him a hard squeeze, she let go and turned to the youngest member of the group.
He gazed silently down at her a moment.
"Need a blade?" he asked.
"No," she shook her head. "Got one. Besides, you might need an extra."
Uncharacteristically, he reached for her wrist and pulled her into a hug.
"If …uh …we don't come back, tell Chris . . . ."
Terry hugged him back. "I will. But she already knows that."
Chief shrugged.
"Come back, Rainey," Terry whispered.
"Plan on it." He guided her back. "Be careful, Little Sister."
"You be careful too, Little Brother. I don't want to have to come back and hunt your down."
"You won't hafta."
The guys stood around a little uncomfortably while Terry put her coat back on, tucked the gun into her pocket and picked up her purse, removing something and leaving it on the table. She paused and turned around to look at Actor.
"You might check Miller's shop," she said. "Four went in, three came out. Wouldn't surprise me if you find a body."
All the more reason not to take Teresa along thought the Italian. If Miller was disposing of his crew, he would think nothing about disposing of her.
"Address?"
"It's in a note for you on the table," she said woodenly. "Where am I going?"
"Back to Zurich. There is a plane waiting for you at the airport. The private hangers. They will be watching for you."
Terry nodded. She turned and went out of the apartment.
"That went too easy," said Casino.
Chief looked at Actor. "Think she'll follow us?"
"No." Before the safecracker to object further, Actor added, "Let us go investigate this photo shop."